(Part 2 of 3)
What were the results of the offerings of Cain and Abel? The
Bible tells us that “the Lord had respect unto Abel and to
his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not
respect” (vv. 4-5). God accepted Abel and his offering, but
not Cain and his offering because Abel pleased God in
accordance with the way of salvation established by God,
while Cain tried to please Him through his own flesh.
Cain's offering implied that even though man had sinned and
was fallen, he did not need to die; rather, he could work on
his own and use the labor of his work to please God. Man
thinks that the leaves he cultivates can cover his shame and
produce from the land can be offered to God to please Him.
Cain relied upon his works to come before God; he had not
passed through death. He thought he could please God by his
own effort. But God did not look upon it and would not accept
it.
Abel's offering seemed to say, “O my God, the skin You have
ordained enabled me to be a proper man. I now offer You the
fat under the skin to please You. The skin is for me and the
fat is for You.” Both the skin and the fat are the results of
death. Only through death could Abel obtain skin to clothe
himself, and only through death could he obtain the fat to
offer to God.
(Continued tomorrow).
Friday, July 16, 2010
Two Offerings (1)
(Part 1 of 3)
If we understand Genesis 3, we can readily understand chapter
four. After Adam sinned, he sewed aprons with the result of
his labor -- the fig leaves -- to cover himself. Cain, the
son of Adam, followed the same principle. He offered the
produce from the land, the results of his own cultivation,
unto God. Cain did exactly the same thing as Adam. The only
difference was that Adam's work was for himself, while Cain's
work was offered to God. Adam wanted to cover himself with
his works in the hope of making himself a good man, whereas
Cain offered God the produce from the land in the hope of
pleasing God. In principle, their works were the same.
While this was occurring in Genesis 3, God clothed Adam and
Eve with coats of skin, signifying that the cross must be
upon them and that death must work upon them. This was God's
revelation to Adam. In Genesis 4, Abel took God's way. Abel
offered unto God the firstling of his flock and of their fat.
What was so special about Abel was that he understood the
need of the cross. He realized that man had sinned and had to
die and that without his death man could not please God.
(Continued tomorrow).
If we understand Genesis 3, we can readily understand chapter
four. After Adam sinned, he sewed aprons with the result of
his labor -- the fig leaves -- to cover himself. Cain, the
son of Adam, followed the same principle. He offered the
produce from the land, the results of his own cultivation,
unto God. Cain did exactly the same thing as Adam. The only
difference was that Adam's work was for himself, while Cain's
work was offered to God. Adam wanted to cover himself with
his works in the hope of making himself a good man, whereas
Cain offered God the produce from the land in the hope of
pleasing God. In principle, their works were the same.
While this was occurring in Genesis 3, God clothed Adam and
Eve with coats of skin, signifying that the cross must be
upon them and that death must work upon them. This was God's
revelation to Adam. In Genesis 4, Abel took God's way. Abel
offered unto God the firstling of his flock and of their fat.
What was so special about Abel was that he understood the
need of the cross. He realized that man had sinned and had to
die and that without his death man could not please God.
(Continued tomorrow).
Fig Leaves versus Coats of Skins (2)
(Part 2 of 2)
Coats of skin signify not only the death of the Savior but
also the death of the sinner. Second Corinthians 5:14 clearly
says, “One died for all, therefore all died.” It does not say
that since one died for all, then all do not need to die. It
says, “One died for all, therefore all died.” In making coats
of skin for Adam and Eve, God was pronouncing death upon
them. At the time of the Passover, the blood of the Lamb was
put on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses. God
said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exo.
12:13). By clothing Adam and Eve with coats of skin, God
showed that salvation not only requires the forgiveness of
sins through the death of the Savior, but also the death of
the sinner.
Salvation involves not only resolving the problem of our sin
but also the termination of us as a person. God dealt not
only with sin but also with our person. Adam and Eve ate of
the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; this
was sin. They sewed aprons of fig trees; this was their good
work. We must realize that God rejected not only the eating
of the fruit but the sewing of the aprons as well. If a man
sins, he displeases God. If he performs good works by his own
effort, he also displeases God. Man's need consists not only
of blood but also of death.
Coats of skin signify not only the death of the Savior but
also the death of the sinner. Second Corinthians 5:14 clearly
says, “One died for all, therefore all died.” It does not say
that since one died for all, then all do not need to die. It
says, “One died for all, therefore all died.” In making coats
of skin for Adam and Eve, God was pronouncing death upon
them. At the time of the Passover, the blood of the Lamb was
put on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses. God
said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exo.
12:13). By clothing Adam and Eve with coats of skin, God
showed that salvation not only requires the forgiveness of
sins through the death of the Savior, but also the death of
the sinner.
Salvation involves not only resolving the problem of our sin
but also the termination of us as a person. God dealt not
only with sin but also with our person. Adam and Eve ate of
the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; this
was sin. They sewed aprons of fig trees; this was their good
work. We must realize that God rejected not only the eating
of the fruit but the sewing of the aprons as well. If a man
sins, he displeases God. If he performs good works by his own
effort, he also displeases God. Man's need consists not only
of blood but also of death.
Fig Leaves versus Coats of Skins (1)
After Adam sinned, he immediately employed a way and a method
to save himself: He used fig leaves to sew himself an apron.
The fig leaves were grown from the ground, and they were the
result of Adam and Eve's dressing and keeping of the garden
of Eden. In other words, they tried to use what they produced
themselves to cover their shame. Man realized before God that
he had fallen and sinned, so he quickly devised ways to
remedy the situation. The first act of man after his fall was
to improve his behavior.
When we first believed in the Lord, we did not realize the
depth and extent of man's works. We thought they just stemmed
from man's wish to do good to save himself. Actually, man's
work implies that, after his fall, he wanted to satisfy God
with the best that he could produce with his own effort. He
realized that he was naked, that he was shameful, and that he
was not acceptable before God. Hence, he devised a way to
cover himself. He wanted to do good to satisfy God's heart.
While man was struggling with his own ways, God gave him a
revelation by making coats of skin to clothe them. This
signified that not only did the redemption of man require
blood and the death of another but also that man's own works
could not cover his shame before God or satisfy God's heart.
Since man has sinned, there is only one way of obtaining
salvation, and that is through the cross and through death. contd/- tommorow.
to save himself: He used fig leaves to sew himself an apron.
The fig leaves were grown from the ground, and they were the
result of Adam and Eve's dressing and keeping of the garden
of Eden. In other words, they tried to use what they produced
themselves to cover their shame. Man realized before God that
he had fallen and sinned, so he quickly devised ways to
remedy the situation. The first act of man after his fall was
to improve his behavior.
When we first believed in the Lord, we did not realize the
depth and extent of man's works. We thought they just stemmed
from man's wish to do good to save himself. Actually, man's
work implies that, after his fall, he wanted to satisfy God
with the best that he could produce with his own effort. He
realized that he was naked, that he was shameful, and that he
was not acceptable before God. Hence, he devised a way to
cover himself. He wanted to do good to satisfy God's heart.
While man was struggling with his own ways, God gave him a
revelation by making coats of skin to clothe them. This
signified that not only did the redemption of man require
blood and the death of another but also that man's own works
could not cover his shame before God or satisfy God's heart.
Since man has sinned, there is only one way of obtaining
salvation, and that is through the cross and through death. contd/- tommorow.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Enjoying Christ to Apply the Cross (2)
Enjoying Christ to Apply the Cross (2)The crucified Christ can be applied to all manner of humanexperiences. Within this crucified Christ there are theelements of resurrection and ascension. Thus, when we enjoythe crucified Christ, we also enjoy His resurrection andascension. The key to experiencing the resurrection andascension of Christ is found in Christ's crucifixion.Crucifixion is the threshold into all the riches of Christ.The cross is the way to experience Christ with all His riches.Apart from Christ's crucifixion, there is no gateway for us toenter into the riches of Christ.When we experience the crucified Christ, we are terminated.All that we are, all that we have, and all that we can do--allis completely terminated. To be terminated, there is no needfor you to crucify yourself. There is not even any need foryou to reckon yourself dead. You are terminated simply byexperiencing the crucified Christ. Actually, it is impossiblefor anyone to crucify himself. But when we call on the name ofthe Lord Jesus, as we are enjoying Him and experiencing Him,His crucifixion will terminate us. All that we are isterminated by this crucified Christ.Crucifixion is the way for us to be delivered from the flesh,the natural life, and the old creation. Christ crucified is not only the power; He is also the way. To the Jews, such aChrist is an offense, and to the Greeks, He is foolishness.But to us who have been called, the crucified Christ is God'spower and God's wisdom for us to be delivered from allnegative things. We thank Him and praise Him that we are nowin the process of being saved. The more we are saved byexperiencing the crucified Christ, the more we enjoy Him.
Enjoying Christ to Apply the Cross (1)
1Cor 1: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews astumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 But tothose who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the powerof God and the wisdom of God.Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer Iwho live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life whichI now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith in the Sonof God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The crucified Christ as God's power and wisdom can be appliedto the problem we face with our temper. Without exception, weall are bothered by our temper. Who can say that he has neverlost his temper? I know of some sisters who, shortly beforethe day of their wedding, made a vow that they would neveragain lose their temper, especially never lose it with theirhusband. However, in every case this vow was broken. Not onlyin married life but in all kinds of situations in our dailylife, we are troubled by our temper.
Many Christians who love the Lord and seek Him have prayedsomething like this: "Lord Jesus, You know how easy it is forme to lose my temper. Lord, You are Jehovah the Savior. I askYou to save me from this sin of losing my temper. O Lord,deliver me from this." Although many have prayed in this way,none have been delivered from their temper as a result. Inourselves we simply do not have either the power to overcomeour temper or the wisdom, the way, to do it. We may think thatprayer will give us power and wisdom. However, even when wepray, we still do not have power and wisdom. But when we callon the name of the Lord, enjoy Christ, and are filled with the life-giving Spirit, we have no problem with our temper.Spontaneously we have both the power to overcome our temperand the way to deal with it.
We may also apply the crucified Christ as God's power andwisdom to our need for patience. We value patience and wedesire to be patient, but we cannot be patient. However, whenwe experience the crucified Christ, we automatically havepatience. This crucified Christ becomes to us both the powerand the wisdom for patience. As a result, we have both thestrength and the way to be patient. Actually, we do not try tobe patient. We simply are patient through our experience ofChrist crucified.
1Cor 1: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews astumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 But tothose who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the powerof God and the wisdom of God.Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer Iwho live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life whichI now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith in the Sonof God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The crucified Christ as God's power and wisdom can be appliedto the problem we face with our temper. Without exception, weall are bothered by our temper. Who can say that he has neverlost his temper? I know of some sisters who, shortly beforethe day of their wedding, made a vow that they would neveragain lose their temper, especially never lose it with theirhusband. However, in every case this vow was broken. Not onlyin married life but in all kinds of situations in our dailylife, we are troubled by our temper.
Many Christians who love the Lord and seek Him have prayedsomething like this: "Lord Jesus, You know how easy it is forme to lose my temper. Lord, You are Jehovah the Savior. I askYou to save me from this sin of losing my temper. O Lord,deliver me from this." Although many have prayed in this way,none have been delivered from their temper as a result. Inourselves we simply do not have either the power to overcomeour temper or the wisdom, the way, to do it. We may think thatprayer will give us power and wisdom. However, even when wepray, we still do not have power and wisdom. But when we callon the name of the Lord, enjoy Christ, and are filled with the life-giving Spirit, we have no problem with our temper.Spontaneously we have both the power to overcome our temperand the way to deal with it.
We may also apply the crucified Christ as God's power andwisdom to our need for patience. We value patience and wedesire to be patient, but we cannot be patient. However, whenwe experience the crucified Christ, we automatically havepatience. This crucified Christ becomes to us both the powerand the wisdom for patience. As a result, we have both thestrength and the way to be patient. Actually, we do not try tobe patient. We simply are patient through our experience ofChrist crucified.
Daily Manna
The Cross, God’s Power and Wisdom
1Cor 1: 18 For the word of the cross is to those who areperishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is thepower of God. 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews astumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 But tothose who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the powerof God and the wisdom of God.
Words of Ministry: In the cross of Christ we see God's power. It takes the powerof God to defeat Satan, the world, sin, fallen man, the flesh,the natural life, the old creation, and the ordinances. Whatother power is greater than Christ crucified as God's power?What other power can destroy Satan or overcome the world? OnlyGod has the power to accomplish these things. This power isnot that of doing things by speaking, such as the power Godexercised in creation. Rather, it is the power of crucifixion,the power of the wonderful death of Christ. This means thatthe crucifixion of Christ has become the power of God. Thedeath of Christ has become God's power to destroy Satan, tosolve the problem of the world, to eliminate sin, and toterminate fallen man, the flesh, the natural life, and the oldcreation. By this power God is able also to solve the problemof the ordinances. By one death, the death of Christ, all theproblems in the universe have been cleared. Thus, Christcrucified is God's power to abolish all negative things andcarry out His plan.
This crucified Christ is also God's wisdom. In order toaccomplish anything, we need both power and wisdom. We havepointed out that wisdom is for planning and purposing, whereaspower is for carrying out and accomplishing what is plannedand purposed. In God's economy Christ crucified is both God's
power and His wisdom. It is possible for us to have power orstrength without having wisdom or the way. If we have powerwithout wisdom, we may use our strength in a foolish way.Therefore, we need Christ as both power and wisdom.
1Cor 1: 18 For the word of the cross is to those who areperishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is thepower of God. 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews astumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 But tothose who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the powerof God and the wisdom of God.
Words of Ministry: In the cross of Christ we see God's power. It takes the powerof God to defeat Satan, the world, sin, fallen man, the flesh,the natural life, the old creation, and the ordinances. Whatother power is greater than Christ crucified as God's power?What other power can destroy Satan or overcome the world? OnlyGod has the power to accomplish these things. This power isnot that of doing things by speaking, such as the power Godexercised in creation. Rather, it is the power of crucifixion,the power of the wonderful death of Christ. This means thatthe crucifixion of Christ has become the power of God. Thedeath of Christ has become God's power to destroy Satan, tosolve the problem of the world, to eliminate sin, and toterminate fallen man, the flesh, the natural life, and the oldcreation. By this power God is able also to solve the problemof the ordinances. By one death, the death of Christ, all theproblems in the universe have been cleared. Thus, Christcrucified is God's power to abolish all negative things andcarry out His plan.
This crucified Christ is also God's wisdom. In order toaccomplish anything, we need both power and wisdom. We havepointed out that wisdom is for planning and purposing, whereaspower is for carrying out and accomplishing what is plannedand purposed. In God's economy Christ crucified is both God's
power and His wisdom. It is possible for us to have power orstrength without having wisdom or the way. If we have powerwithout wisdom, we may use our strength in a foolish way.Therefore, we need Christ as both power and wisdom.
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